Radio host Ali Clarke opens up about on-air break down
ADELAIDE radio presenter Ali Clarke has opened up about why she broke down in tears live on air this morning after receiving a critical text message from a listener. HEAR THE EXCHANGE.
ADELAIDE radio presenter Ali Clarke has opened up about why she broke down in tears live on air this morning after receiving a critical text message from a listener.
The text accused the ABC Radio Adelaide breakfast presenter of a “pitiful interview”, saying that she had “embarrassed the interviewee”.
On receiving the text, Ms Clarke, who is known for her bright and bubbly personality, immediately broke down in tears.
“Sorry ... we don’t always get things right here but we do always try our best, you know and we sit here with the text line in front of us and it just adds up you know,” she said on-air.
“Sometimes we do interviews and it is handed to us last minute and we are trying our very best and when someone texts in that was a pitiful interview, and what you just said was awful, I’ve embarrassed the interviewee, and provided excruciating listening to the Adelaide audience, and maybe this is too, but it adds up.”
Speaking to The Advertiser after the incident, Ms Clarke said the offending text was sent in response to an interview she conducted with an Adelaide women who rescued a joey from its dead mother’s pouch at McLaren Vale.
“It was just one of those things, (there were) lots of interviews in a row and for whatever reason it got under my (skin),” she said.
“This isn’t about people disagreeing with me – People disagreeing with me is great.
“It was pretty personal and the words that they used were pretty rough. If you speak to anybody…when you get this constantly, some days you can take it better than others.”
The radio host said she had received an outpouring of support from friends and listeners since the incident.
Ms Clarke, who acknowledged that public criticism “comes with the territory” and said she still loved her job and listeners, did not hold any ill-will towards the person who sent the message.
“I want to make sure they’re OK,” she said. “I struggle to believe that people do that just to be mean – Maybe they were just having a bad day.”
However, Ms Clarke said she hoped people who sent nasty messages to others would “understand whatever you say to someone, it’s going to have consequences”.
“It would just be nice if people would take a little more care of people,” she said.
Fellow broadcaster Leigh Sales noted that abusive commentary from listeners was a daily occurence for those simply doing their jobs.
Other journalists posted their support, including The Australian’s Chris Kenny.
Ms Clarke encouraged constructive criticism from listeners.
“There is not a single person in the ABC that doesn’t value people’s input,” she said.
“You don’t ever have to agree me…tell me your viewpoint.”
Fellow ABC Radio Adelaide host David Bevan, who was on air with Ms Clarke when she read the text, offered his support to his colleague.
“People do say dreadful things on the text line and all of us toughen up and ignore it but sometimes it does get through,” he said on air.
“To the person who sent that very hurtful text you are not alone, there is a community of people who give a running commentary.”
